Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, is under pressure to veto an anti-gay law that businesses say could hurt her state. / Charles Dharapak, AP

by Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic

by Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic

PHOENIX - Gov. Jan Brewer returned to Arizona on Tuesday, five days into an escalating controversy over a bill that would allow the use of religious beliefs as a basis for refusing service to gays and others.

The Republican governor has not tipped her hand about what action she will take -- or when. She has said that she wants time to meet with interested parties and review the bill, which would offer a legal shield for businesses that cite religious beliefs as a reason to not serve some customers.

The measure has galvanized the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Close advisers, business officials, faith leaders and others have urged Brewer to veto the bill.

On Tuesday, former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney encouraged Brewer to get out her veto stamp, tweeting "veto of SB1062 is right."

Arizona's two U.S. senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, both Republicans, have also called on Brewer to strike down the law.

The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, which is overseeing preparations for the 2015 game in Glendale, issued a statement saying the bill would "deal a significant blow to the state's economic-growth potential."

The NFL said it is closely watching the bill. "Our policies emphasize tolerance and inclusiveness and prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other improper standard," spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Several businesses, including tech giant Apple and American Airlines Group, on Monday encouraged Brewer to veto the bill.

The Phoenix City Council voted 8-1 to call for a Brewer veto. The bill would overrule the protections Phoenix provided the LGBT community last year through a city ordinance, and would also override similar measures in Tucson and Flagstaff.

Brewer has until 11:59 p.m. MT Saturday to take action. At the state Capitol, critics and bystanders wondered why Brewer hadn't already acted, especially given mounting worries that the prospect of the bill becoming law is harming the state's reputation and its economic recovery.

"I hope the governor vetoes the bill for the good of the economy," said Republican state Rep. Jeff Dial, who last week joined the GOP majority in the Legislature in passing the bill. On Monday, three Republican senators said they regretted their votes in favor of the bill. "We made a mistake," Sen. Steve Pierce said.

Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, which promoted SB1062, wouldn't predict how Brewer would act. But she said its defeat, if it happens, would be politically motivated. said the outcry makes it "almost impossible" for Brewer to sign the bill.

"But if the bill is vetoed, it will be because of the perception of the bill, not the merits," she said.

Brewer vetoed a similar bill last year after lawmakers defied her demand that they not send her any more legislation until they had acted on Medicaid expansion. In her 2013 veto letter, she did not address the substance of the religious-freedom bill.